Royal Caribbean just finished updating Allure of the Seas with so many new changes, and I wanted to be the first to see it all.
Following a $100M amplification, the vessel was modernized to include new activities, dining venues, and updated entertainment.
With all the enhancements, whether the tropical Pesky Parrot bar or Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, I couldn’t wait to get onboard and check out everything new on the amplified ship.
I paid $1,260 for an interior cabin
I booked my Allure of the Seas cruise nine months prior to departure. I was set to sail on the first cruise following her amplification, a 4-night Mediterranean itinerary from Barcelona.
Expecting high airfare costs, I hoped to save money on the price of my cabin, opting for an interior guarantee room over a balcony or suite. The guarantee rate meant my small, windowless stateroom would not be assigned until closer to the sail date.
There’s some risk involved with guarantee cabins, such as being assigned a room in an unfavorable location, but still, it helped me save money.
In total, I paid $1,260 for my cruise fare. This included the price of the cabin for two adults along with taxes, fees, and prepaid gratuities.
My room wasn’t anything special, but choosing the cheapest cabin option allowed me to spend more money elsewhere.
At $1,360, my economy flight to Europe was more expensive than my cruise fare
Because Allure of the Seas’ first cruise following her amplification left from Spain, I knew my flight would be expensive. I paid $1,360 for a round trip flight to Barcelona. While somewhat expected, this was, admittedly, more than I hoped to pay.
I fly to Europe every summer for both cruises and land-based travel. Coming from the west coast of the US, I usually find savvy ways to save money on airfare.
Read more: 6 things to consider before booking a flight to your cruise
Sometimes I fly to the cheapest destination, such as London, and buy a budget hopper flight to my cruise embarkation city. I also typically search for deals in the months leading up to my cruise, keeping travel dates somewhat flexible in order to find the best option.
For this cruise, I didn’t have as much flexibility due to schedule constraints. As a result, I spent more for my flight than on previous trips to Europe.
A pre-cruise hotel in Barcelona was $252
It’s always recommended to arrive to your embarkation city the day before your cruise begins.
This is especially true in Europe. Arriving a day early not only gives you extra time to make it to the port in case of delays, but it also helps you recover from jet lag before your cruise begins.
Before embarking Allure of the Seas, I booked a one night stay at Hotel Rec, an adults-only hotel near Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf. At $252, I thought the price was fair for the city center, and I was impressed by the location and facilities.
A rooftop bar provided excellent views of the city. As another plus, I was just steps away from some of Barcelona's most iconic attractions.
It was the perfect place to catch up on rest before heading to the cruise port the following day.
My in-country transportation was only $30
Something I love about cruising in Europe are the well-connected ports and city centers. One way I saved money on my Allure of the Seas cruise was by utilizing public transportation to and from the airport, my hotel, and the cruise port.
Instead of taking a $40 taxi from the airport to my hotel, for example, I took the airport bus and subway, setting me back just $11. In total, I spent around $30 for all in-country transportation before and after my cruise.
Taking public transportation can be a great way to save money, but only under the right circumstances. I traveled with just a carry-on suitcase and backpack, so it was easy to navigate the transit systems.
If I were with a larger group or had heavy luggage, sharing a taxi might be more cost-effective and less stressful.
While onboard, I spent nothing extra aside from tips
It wasn’t necessarily intentional, but my bill at the end of my Allure of the Seas cruise was $0.
Royal Caribbean cruises include a lot in the cruise fare, but most passengers still spend extra onboard. Whether a spa treatment, specialty dining meal, or drink at a bar, it’s easy to find ways to spend money around the ship.
For my short 4-night cruise, I found enough variety in dining options and activities that I didn’t feel the need to spend anything extra. While I would have enjoyed a meal at Izumi Sushi or Giovanni’s Table, there were more than enough complimentary dining venues to keep me satisfied.
Likewise, my five daily drink vouchers through Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society meant I never needed to spend extra on drinks. I loved using these vouchers to try cocktails around the ship, including those from Allure’s new Lime and Coconut bar and the Trellis Bar in Central Park.
Aside from tipping a few crew members at the end of the cruise, I didn’t spend anything extra onboard.
I spent $53 on a shore excursion in France and $120 while exploring port
My 4-night Allure of the Seas cruise included two ports of call: Marseille, France and Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
I rarely book organized shore excursions when I cruise, but I knew I wanted to plan a tour in Marseille. After visiting the port last year, I felt as if I had already seen most of Marseille’s highlights.
This time, I wanted to visit a small town near the city, but I was nervous to travel far distances on my own. With just eight hours in Marseille, I didn’t want to risk missing the ship.
Instead, I spent $53 on a tour to Aix-en-Provence. This small city is known for its charming architecture and lively markets, and it’s just a half hour drive from the cruise port. The tour, Aix On Your Own, included transport to the city, four hours of free time upon arrival, and transport back to the cruise port.
I originally booked the tour for $71, but later noticed a price drop. As a result, I canceled the tour and rebooked through Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner site, saving me $18 in the process.
In addition to the excursion cost, I also encountered additional expenses exploring ports of call. From a $3 latte to $10 crêpe, I spent around $120 total in Spain and France.
Spending $3,075 was costly for a 4-night cruise. Next time, I’d book a longer itinerary.
After spending $3,075 for my short trip to Europe, I don’t think I would ever do it again. Flying to Europe takes significant money and effort. Booking a longer cruise would have made the expenses more justified.
Some travel purchases, like a pre-cruise hotel and airfare, are set in stone regardless of whether I book a 4-night or 12-night European cruise.
So although the cruise fare may be more expensive on a longer itinerary, the price per day (when taking into account airfare and hotels) is typically much lower.
Read more: Lessons learned after trying a Mediterranean cruise
At the end of the day, I’m glad I got to sail on the amplified Allure of the Seas. It was a beautiful ship and I love all the new features Royal Caribbean added to the vessel.
On future trips to Europe, though, I’ll definitely book a longer itinerary or even back-to-back cruises. There are so many unique itineraries on the continent and I wish I had more time to discover them all.
